Lockout by Maya Cross Page A

clothes."
    "So it is yours?" I asked, grinning widely.
    He sighed. "Regrettably, yes. Let's just say I was going through a phase."
    I laughed. It was impossible to picture Sebastian looking anything other than perfectly dapper — even now, naked, save for a pair of loose fitting slacks, he looked stunning — but it was nice to know he was human too.
    My stomach rumbled as my brain finally registered the smell of oil and eggs. Looking around, I realised that breakfast was already well on the way. There was coffee brewing in a rather elaborate drip filter pot, and several fry pans were sizzling on the stove. Sebastian was busy flitting between them, spatula in hand. There was something about the image that made me giggle.
    "What's so funny?" he asked.
    "Nothing, I just didn't take you for much of a cook."
    A look of mock offence crossed his face. "And why would you think that?"
    "I don't know. I just assumed you'd have somebody to do it for you."
    "Because money means you never do anything for yourself?"
    "I didn't say that! It's just an amusing image. The millionaire dom who liked to cook. It's like a bad erotic book title."
    He grinned. "Even us steely sadists have to eat."
    "Well it smells great." I slipped closer to survey what was on offer. "Mmm, Chorizo for breakfast? You're living dangerously."
    "I do everything dangerously, Sophia," he deadpanned. We both laughed.
    "You know, I honestly can't remember the last time a guy cooked me breakfast," I said, taking a seat as he slid a plate in front of me. "I have to say, I kind of like it so far."
    He joined me at the bar. "Sounds to me like you've been dating the wrong guys."
    "You can say that again." As much as I willed it to stay put, the smile fell from my face. I hated that two years later, Connor still had the power to hurt me, but he did. Just thinking about him made my stomach knot with shame.
    Sebastian gazed at me for several seconds, his expression mirroring my own. "He must been one hell of a bastard."
    I nodded. "He wasn't exactly boyfriend of the year."
    "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring him up."
    I sighed. As much as it hurt to discuss, I still felt a little like I owed Sebastian an explanation for my past behaviour. "It's fine. I should be able to talk about this stuff by now."
    He hesitated, but took the hint. "What happened between you two exactly?"
    "Nothing worth talking about. He was rich and charming, I was young and naive. It was a match made in heaven... for him at least."
    "Were you together long?"
    "A few years. Long enough to make me feel like an idiot for ever trusting him." It came out more bitter than I'd intended.
    "Hey," he said, reaching out to stroke my arm, "everybody's allowed a mistake, here or there. God knows I've got my share."
    "There's a difference between a mistake and outright stupidity. All the signs were there — unexplained nights away from home, mysterious texts — but he always had an excuse ready, and I ate them up. Looking back on it now it seems so fucking obvious."
    "People don't behave rationally when they're in love. You can't hold that against yourself. Besides, from where I'm sitting, you're not the one that really fucked up."
    "Oh?"
    He smiled. "You're a strong, beautiful, amazing woman, Sophia. He may have had you for a year or two, but he gave you up. One day, someone is going to have you forever, and then they're going to be the ones making him look stupid."
    I stared at him for several seconds, a rush of some foreign emotion blazing in my belly. Talking about Connor always left me feeling angry and embarrassed, but somehow Sebastian had washed all that away with just a few lovely words.
    "Well, it's hard to argue with that," I said.
    "Then don't."
    We moved on to lighter topics. Sebastian had several less than flattering stories about Thomas. I think he was just trying to get revenge for 'Locky'. The whole experience was a bit of a revelation. Every time I was with him, he revealed a new side to himself, and I